Hazelwood mine fire has been declared officially safe

Morwell residents were faced with pollution from the mine fire for more than a month.

ABC News.

The Hazelwood coal mine fire has been declared as officially safe and management will be handed back to the mine operator.

Fire authorities have extinguished all fires in the mine and will hand over management of remaining hot spots to the operator GDF Suez from tomorrow.

Victorian Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley, says more than 7,000 fire fighters have been involved in battling the blaze since the mine fire began 45 days ago.

He says the remaining hot spots in the mine may give off some smoke, but the effect on the Morwell community will be minimal.

"There is no fire that has been detected, and that's obviously done with thermal cameras and has been worked on over the last number of weeks to ensure that we're got the fire out, which is where we've declared safe," he said.

"All hot spots are out expect there is a couple that could reoccur and will be monitored with the mine's management and also the CFA with continued support."

Opposition calls for expansion to inquiry

The Victorian Opposition is calling on the State Government to expand the terms of reference for the inquiry into the Hazelwood mine fire.

The Opposition wants the inquiry to specifically investigate the measures taken to monitor and protect the health and safety of firefighters.

About 20 firefighters were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning in the first week of the fire.

The Opposition spokesman for Emergency Services, Wade Noonan, says firefighters should not have to push their way into the inquiry to have their case heard.

"There is absolutely no reason why the Napthine Government should silence the voice of firefighters in this inquiry," he said.

"We would hope that they would broaden those terms to make sure that those voices aren't silent these are very serious issues."

Firefighters protest on steps of Parliament

Several hundred fire fighters marched on State Parliament, accusing the Government of cutting funding to Victoria’s fire services.

It follows allegations yesterday that fire fighters working on the Hazelwood mine fire, were exposed to unsafe levels of carbon monoxide in the early stages of the fire.

A busload of Morwell residents also joined the rally.

The United Fire Fighters Union says the Government has not delivered on the 342 extra fire fighters it promised, after the Black Saturday Bushfires in 2009.

The Union is currently in the middle of a pay talks with the State Government, which have been going for several months.

The Minister for Police and Emergency Services Kim Wells says the fire fighters union and the Opposition are deliberately misleading Victorians.

He says the Government is committed to investing in the state's fire services.

"Since coming to office, the Coalition Government has provided the CFA with funding of more than $1.84 billion and the MFB more than $1.13 billion," he said.